ISLAMABAD– Pakistan has, for the second time officially, lifted a ban on China-based ByteDance’s app TikTok consequent to a local high court’s order.
This was done almost a month after the same judicature had directed the state-run telecommunication authority to “immediately block access” to the short-form video-sharing service.
‘TikTok appoints focal person’
The court in the northwestern city of Peshawar was told during the hearing today that TikTok had appointed a focal person to focus on “immoral content” and what action should be taken in that regard.
Peshawar High Court (PHC) Chief Justice Qaiser Rashid Khan told the PTA’s director-general that the body should have a system that could differentiate between “good and bad”.
“When PTA takes action [against immoral content], people will not upload such videos,” Justice Qaiser said, to which the latter said the authority had spoken to TikTok to block repeat offenders.
The PHC then ordered the PTA to “open TikTok but immoral content should not be uploaded”, asking the official to present a detailed report on the matter during the next hearing scheduled for May 25.
Bans ‘may effect economic future’ of Pakistan
Separately, Science and Technology Minister Fawad Chaudhry expressed concern over how banning apps “may effect economic future” of Pakistan.
“Peshawar High Court has suspended the operation of single bench judgement, ban on TikTok has been lifted,” Chaudhry wrote on Twitter. “We need a framework to encourage international companies to make Pakistan their investment hub.”
SOURCE: GEO NEWS
